End post for wire fences



(No Model.)

J. M. PHELPS. END POST FOR WIRE FENGES.

' No. 523,992. Patented Aug. 7, 1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICEU JAMES M. PHELPS, OF BROADWAY, OHIO.

END POST FOR WIRE FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 523,992, dated August '7, 1894. Application filed February 5, 1894. Serial No. 499,169. [No model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. PHELPS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Broadway, Union county, State of Ohio,

clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to wire fences, and it includes improvements in. a post, a wire stretcher, and a path closer; and the object of the same is to formthe parts of such im proved construction that they will combine with each other to the best possible advantage and produce a fence which is easily and cheaply constructed and wherein the wires can be readily adjusted in tension without unseating the post and yet leave an open path for the passage of small stock when desired.

To this end the invention consists in the specific construction hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a section of my improved fence showing allits parts assembled. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the outside of the anchor post and the tightening tool, showing the means for adjusting the wire stretcher and holding it in adjusted position.

Referring to the said drawings, the numeral 1 designates the fence wires (barbed or plain) and of which there are preferably about ten as shown which are woven alternately on opposite sides of stays 2 and stapled thereto as shown at 3, and the fence so constructed may be of any desired length with certain limitations. At one end of the length of stretch is the main post 4 having a number of holes 5 through which the wires pass loosely, and outside of this post (that is on the side thereof beyond the stretch of fence) is an anchor post 6 firmly seated in the ground and preferably connected at its upper end by a rigid strut 7 interposed between the main and anchor posts as shown. In addition, a brace wire 8 may connect the upper end of the main post with the anchor post at a point at or beneath the earths surface-forming a loop around the two posts and the fence wires between them. The two posts are thus firmly locked together and the strain which is thrown on the anchor post as will be seen below, is communicated from its upper end by the strut to the upper end of the main post, and thence by the brace back to the lower end of the anchor post near the point where it is seated in the ground.

10 is an upright bar somewhat shorter in length than the distance between the surface of the earth and the lower side of the strut, J

and to this bar the wires 1 are connected as seen- 11 are short sections of wires, rods, or chains (preferably the latter) connected with the bar 10 and passing loosely through holes 12 in the anchor post. 1f rods were used they should carry nuts attheir outer ends bearing against the outer face of the anchor post, but I preferably employ chains as shown and through certain. of their links outside the anchor post are passed pins, nails, or bolts 13.

14 is a tool having ahooked end 15 of such shape that it may be hooked into one of the links of the chain and the handle 16 borne down upon to rock the tool over its fulcrum 17 and draw on the chain. As soon as ate'nsion is given thereto the bolt 13 can be removed, and after another link has been drawn through the hole 12 and is exposed at the out side of the post 6, the pin can be'dropped therein to prevent a retrograde movement. Thus'it will be seen that thismovable bar- 10, adjustable by the means described and connected with the fence'wires, serves as a wire stretcher or tightener to take up the slack when the wires become loose. The strain thrown upon the anchor post 6 is communicated by the strut 7 to the main post 4 and then by the brace 8 back to the anchor post at a point where the latter will not be drawn from the ground-all as above described.

In Fig. l of the drawings I have shown the upright bar 10 as standing at some consid-- erable distance from the anchor post so that a small path or opening 20 is formed between this bar 10 and the post 6 and between the central chain 11' and the lower chain 11"; andthrough this path small stock can obviou'slypass. If it is desired to open a larger path, the central chain 11 may be omitted; and it would require only the skill of a mechanic to hang a gate within this opening 20 whereby the path could be closed at will without adjusting the tension of the wires. The width of this path can be adjusted when desired by placing the pins 13 in proper links of the chains 11 and 11", so that the upright bar 10 shall stand nearer to or farther from the post 6. Thus the path can be made of a size to permit a sheep to pass through, but prevent a hog from passing on account of his large lateral size. During such adjustment of the upright bar, it it is not desired to adjust the tension of the wires, they can be let down at the other end of the stretch of fence or somewhere in their length.

Thus it will be seen that my invention comprises an improved post which cannot be readily drawn from the ground,an improved wire stretcher whereby the tension of the wires can be easily taken up, and an improved path closer formed by the wire stretcher itself and capable of being made larger or smaller as well as of receiving a gate when desired. All parts of this structure are of the desired sizes, shape, materials, and proportions, and considerable change in the specific details may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What is claimed as new is-- 1. An end post for wire fences consisting essentially of a main upright post having a series of holes through its body, an upright anchor post outside the main post and at the end of the stretch of fence, a rigid strut consisting of a single horizontal bar interposed between these posts at their upper ends, and an oblique brace for the main post; combined with an upright bar located beneath said strut and at some distance from the anchor post, fence wires passing loosely through the holes in the main post and connected with said bar, and rods or chains adjustably connecting the ends of this bar with the anchor post so as to leave a path between them and between the anchor post and bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An end post for wire fences consisting essentially of a main upright post having a series of holes through its body, an upright anchor post outside the main post and at the end of the stretch of fence, a rigid strut consisting of a single horizontal bar interposed between these posts at their upper ends, and

an oblique brace for the main post; combined it with an upright bar located beneath said strut and at some distance from the anchor post, fence wires passing loosely through the holes in the main post and connected with said bar, rods or chains adj ustably connecting the ends of this bar with the anchor post so as to leave a path between them and between the anchor post and bar, and an additional chain connecting the center of this upright bar with the anchor post to close said path and removable to open the path, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of an upright main post having a series of holes, an anchor post outside the main post and also having holes, a strut between the upper ends of said posts, and an oblique brace connecting the upper end of the main post with the lower end of the anchor post; with an upright movable bar standing under said strut, fencewires passing through the holes in the main post and connected with said bar, chains connected with the bar and passing through the holes in the anchor post, means for drawing said chains adjustably through the anchor post, and a bolt or pin removably passed through a link of each chain outside the anchor post, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a wire fence, the combination with a post, and oblique braces therefor; of an upright bar inside said post to which bar the fence wires are attached, two long horizontal chains connected with the extremities of said bar and passing through the post, and devices substantially as described at the outer ends of said chains for drawing them independently through the post and adjusting their length so as to leave a path between the chains and between the post and bar, which path is adjustable in width, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature on this the 2d day of February, A. D. 1894:.

JAMES M. PHELPS.

WVitnesses:

JOSEPH P. ROBBINS, JOHN S. PHELPS. 

